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dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Transphobia, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Slavery, Vomit, Death of parent
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Themes/Tropes: Enemies to lovers, fantasy, mystery, magic, slow burn, magic, romance
Holy crap holy crap holyyyy crap. First (non-reread) 6 ⭐️ read of 2025, this was phenomenal! I am blown away that this is Shalini Abeysekara’s debut novel because it was so incredibly well thought out and written. It’s marketed as a romantasy but I’d say it’s more fantasy with a romance subplot. The romance is AMAZING but it is an incredibly slow burn and takes a backseat to the riveting plot.
I absolutely fell in love with this world and the complexities of this society Shalini created. The complicated relationship and power dynamics between a Petrarch and their petitor was so interesting to explore, and the overarching theme around questioning and dismantling the corrupt legal systems in place was so powerful and um super important considering today’s political climate...
And the characters!! The love, the hate, the friendships, the betrayals. I cried for Sarai, I raged at Cisuré, I swooned over Kadra, cheered on Sarai for her bravery and determination, then cried some more, for Kadra this time. I felt every emotion so powerfully reading about these characters because they were SO well rounded and felt so incredibly real.
Sarai and Kadra are my new favorite book couple, no exaggeration. The way they are willing to burn the world down for each other time and time again had me a gooey blubbering mess. The slow burn was so incredibly good, the tension and the banter and the pining my god I was DYING. I have a million things I want to gush about with these two but I want to try and keep things somewhat spoiler free here. All I’ll say is I never thought I’d sob over a ribbon.
This is a huge win for Shalini, I cannot wait to see where she takes this story next. I hope to see so many more works from this author, I am blown away!!
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Themes/Tropes: Enemies to lovers, fantasy, mystery, magic, slow burn, magic, romance
Holy crap holy crap holyyyy crap. First (non-reread) 6 ⭐️ read of 2025, this was phenomenal! I am blown away that this is Shalini Abeysekara’s debut novel because it was so incredibly well thought out and written. It’s marketed as a romantasy but I’d say it’s more fantasy with a romance subplot. The romance is AMAZING but it is an incredibly slow burn and takes a backseat to the riveting plot.
I absolutely fell in love with this world and the complexities of this society Shalini created. The complicated relationship and power dynamics between a Petrarch and their petitor was so interesting to explore, and the overarching theme around questioning and dismantling the corrupt legal systems in place was so powerful and um super important considering today’s political climate...
And the characters!! The love, the hate, the friendships, the betrayals. I cried for Sarai, I raged at Cisuré, I swooned over Kadra, cheered on Sarai for her bravery and determination, then cried some more, for Kadra this time. I felt every emotion so powerfully reading about these characters because they were SO well rounded and felt so incredibly real.
Sarai and Kadra are my new favorite book couple, no exaggeration. The way they are willing to burn the world down for each other time and time again had me a gooey blubbering mess. The slow burn was so incredibly good, the tension and the banter and the pining my god I was DYING. I have a million things I want to gush about with these two but I want to try and keep things somewhat spoiler free here. All I’ll say is I never thought I’d sob over a ribbon.
This is a huge win for Shalini, I cannot wait to see where she takes this story next. I hope to see so many more works from this author, I am blown away!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Transphobia, Kidnapping
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I, am flabbergasted, I'm in awe. This was such a devastating debut, Shalini Abeysekara knew she had a story to tell and told it in the most impeccable way. Between the plots, characters and setting there was nothing, and I say nothing, that I did not like.
Plus were set in a world that os inspired from ancient Rome, and I'm Italian, so I knew it was going to be a good read from the very start.
Kadra and Sarai have climbed their way into my heart, easily claiming the spot between some of my favorite couples. Kadra, all-mighty Tetrarch that seems to know it all, who wears power and manipulation like a glove and Sarai. A fighter, not a quitter, someone that found the courage to change their life after all that's unfair was thrown at heron where forgetting and moving on isn't admitted, not until those who have wronged her- and many other after her- were to be brought in front of a trial.
Trials, another thing this book had plenty of, and that made my interest sky-rocket to the moon. Each trial we had was full of tension (tbh all this book was tension filled and that's once again another scored point) and how Sarai slowly but steadily tore through years of lies and secret hid in plain sight as she researched the truth was so satisfying to read, how she related to each other character (especially our Kadra) was well done. Both her relationship with the remaining of the Tetrarchs and the other Petitors.
AND CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE TENSION BETWEEN OUR CRUEL TETRARCH AND HIS PETITOR? THEIR SMALL SNARKY REMARKS AS THE STORY PROGRESSED? OH I'M ALL IN FOR MORE OF THAT.
This is going to be if not the first then the second time where I've actually wanted to buy the book and have it on my bookshelf.
What an amazing read, the only thing that this book misses for now is a map to help the reader picture Edessa. The rest is amazing stunning, give me 15 of these.
5⭐️ 1.25/1.5🌶️
I, am flabbergasted, I'm in awe. This was such a devastating debut, Shalini Abeysekara knew she had a story to tell and told it in the most impeccable way. Between the plots, characters and setting there was nothing, and I say nothing, that I did not like.
Plus were set in a world that os inspired from ancient Rome, and I'm Italian, so I knew it was going to be a good read from the very start.
Kadra and Sarai have climbed their way into my heart, easily claiming the spot between some of my favorite couples. Kadra, all-mighty Tetrarch that seems to know it all, who wears power and manipulation like a glove and Sarai. A fighter, not a quitter, someone that found the courage to change their life after all that's unfair was thrown at heron where forgetting and moving on isn't admitted, not until those who have wronged her- and many other after her- were to be brought in front of a trial.
Trials, another thing this book had plenty of, and that made my interest sky-rocket to the moon. Each trial we had was full of tension (tbh all this book was tension filled and that's once again another scored point) and how Sarai slowly but steadily tore through years of lies and secret hid in plain sight as she researched the truth was so satisfying to read, how she related to each other character (especially our Kadra) was well done. Both her relationship with the remaining of the Tetrarchs and the other Petitors.
AND CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE TENSION BETWEEN OUR CRUEL TETRARCH AND HIS PETITOR? THEIR SMALL SNARKY REMARKS AS THE STORY PROGRESSED? OH I'M ALL IN FOR MORE OF THAT.
This is going to be if not the first then the second time where I've actually wanted to buy the book and have it on my bookshelf.
What an amazing read, the only thing that this book misses for now is a map to help the reader picture Edessa. The rest is amazing stunning, give me 15 of these.
5⭐️ 1.25/1.5🌶️
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Toxic friendship